Isaiah 24:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Instead, as I mentioned, these phrases symbolize the chaos of life, the experience of existence amid that chaos, and the dragon—Satan—who encircles humanity and prowls through creation, seeking to malign the souls of the faithful. The term "sea" is indicative of a multitude of nations, perhaps even of islands and cities. He declares that the glory of Christ will, in some measure, be present among them, and they shall come to realize, through divine intervention, their desolation and ultimate demise, a consequence of their transgressions against the Almighty. They will renounce their idols, which bring them no assistance whatsoever. This serves to elevate the glory of the Lord to extraordinary heights. It is clear that the primary aim of the prophetic messages is to unveil the mystery of Christ, reminding us of future salvation through Him; as He said, those who remain on the earth shall rejoice in the glory of the Lord, for we are not saved by our righteous deeds, but rather justified by His immense mercy, not by the mere shadow of the law. The law does not justify us; rather, it is the grace of holy baptism that redeems us from our sins, which offers us the hope of future blessings, assuring us that we shall dwell with Christ Himself, who embodies the glory of the Father, as I have stated. When the message of the holy Apostles has spread throughout the heavenly realms, emancipating the nations from the folly of polytheism and guiding them to the grace of Christ, it will be said that the waters of the sea shall be stirred; that is, the peoples dwelling under the sun will experience this upheaval. They become unsettled upon hearing unfamiliar languages, which lead them away from ancient errors and into the light of truth. Thus, it is proclaimed, 'The glory of the Lord is in the islands of the sea.' The term "islands" refers to the holy churches of God that, while situated in this world akin to the sea, endure and triumph over its disturbances, for Christ protects them, preventing the waves of persecution from overwhelming them. Just as he refers to the nations as the sea, he aptly uses the term "islands" for the churches where the glory of God is extolled.

They will raise their voices in praise when the Lord is glorified, calling out from the sea: When only a few are left, when the curse consumes the land, leading to desolation in the city, amid all these events occurring across the earth and among the nations, then the number of saints shall be exceedingly small, of whom the Lord speaks in the Gospel, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Luke 14:24). The suffering of the righteous will escalate to such a degree that even God’s elect will be tempted, if that were possible. The saints will become so rare that their presence will be likened to the few olives that remain on an olive tree after the fruit has been harvested and shaken off. This condition is similar to how, following the grape harvest, the impoverished are compelled to sift through the barren vines to gather a mere handful of grapes. Thus, those who endure, once the grapes of this world have been gathered and crushed, will escape the clutches of the pursuing Antichrist or the flames of forthcoming anguish, and they will raise their voices in praise to God. Therefore, in their beliefs, they must exalt the Lord; in the coastlands, the name of the God of Israel shall be honored. When the Lord comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels, and they behold Him reigning in majesty, they will roar with joy like horses, shouting with exultation from this age’s sea. Therefore, you who are well-versed in the Holy Scriptures, and understand the immense joy and profound rewards that await you, must in doctrine praise the Lord, taking heed of this writing: “But let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (2 Cor. 10:17). It is not in the land of Judah but in the isles, representing the churches across this sea and world, where the name of the God of Israel is blessed and praised by the new Israel or by those who see God. In the LXX, whatever revelation we grasp regarding the saints may also apply to the ungodly—that when the grape harvest concludes, they will weep in anguish; meanwhile, those who are spared from being among the ungodly shall rejoice in the glory of the Lord, as the waters of the nations of this world will be disturbed.